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Uncovered SLO


Mecham’s abdication cheered, chided

Written on 6 Feb, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 35 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN A bombshell announcement at Tuesday’s county supervisors’ board meeting has two of its members seething, two others grappling with their abrupt elevation to leadership stature, and its former chairman content with his unprecedented action. First District Supervisor... (Continue reading)

Video of San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Board coup

Written on 4 Feb, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 55 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Chairman Frank Mecham steps down, offers the board’s leadership to colleague Debbie Arnold, and the vice-chair to new supervisor Lynn Compton. Mecham’s unexpected move is not appreciated by fellow board members Adam... (Continue reading)

Feds look for links between Rabobank and drug cartels

Written on 4 Feb, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 14 comments

By KAREN VELIE Federal law enforcement agencies are investigating Rabobank over questions about whether the bank overlooked signs of money laundering by customers with connections to Mexican drug cartels. For more than a year, investigators have interviewed current and former... (Continue reading)

Hill ousted; Arnold, Compton take leadership

Written on 3 Feb, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 100 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Amid allegations of sexism and a good old boys’ club, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Frank Mecham stepped down as board chairman in order to promote Supervisor Debbie Arnold to chair and Supervisor Lynn Compton to vice... (Continue reading)

Sanitation district attorney misled ratepayers

Written on 30 Jan, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 100 comments

By KAREN VELIE Confidential documents obtained by CalCoastNews reveal a long-term plan by South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District officials to delay fines and findings of mismanagement by mounting a legal battle against the state — a fight they... (Continue reading)

Jail population plummets, sheriff budget increases

Written on 28 Jan, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 41 comments

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Jail inmate numbers in San Luis Obispo County have dropped by more than 25 percent since last year following initial implementation of Prop. 47, but San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s spending continues... (Continue reading)

Sanitation district board pursues an audit

Written on 22 Jan, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 37 comments

By KAREN VELIE After several years of voting against an audit, the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District Board voted 3-0 on Wednesday to pursue a financial review of the past 12 years. Approximately 30 people attended Wednesday’s meeting.... (Continue reading)

SLO police chief travels on the family plan

Written on 21 Jan, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 88 comments

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN San Luis Obispo Police Chief Steve Gesell attended 13 conferences during 2014. Expense records show that some of the conferences turned into family trips and the city footed the bill. A two-month investigation by... (Continue reading)

Steve Adams threatens to sue Arroyo Grande

Written on 18 Jan, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 130 comments

BY KAREN VELIE Former Arroyo Grande City Manager Steve Adams filed a claim against the city last week threatening a lawsuit if the council does not extend his paid administrative leave for six months. The city will meet in closed... (Continue reading)

SLO hires controversial financial planner

Written on 16 Jan, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 46 comments

San Luis Obispo has hired a former Carmel city administrator who left under allegations of misconduct as its interim director of information technology. San Luis Obispo is paying Jason Stilwell $11,888 per month for leading the 2015-17 financial plan development,... (Continue reading)